A news bulletin is a short summary of news stories from a day which is broadcast on radio or television. The main stories usually appear at the start and the least important at the end.
Getting the balance and pace of your bulletin right is important. Too many long complicated stories will slow the bulletin down and cause listeners to lose interest. Similarly too many short sharp stories will make the bulletin sound unstructured and disjointed. A good way to achieve balance and pace is to rank your stories in order of importance then look at the list afresh to ensure that there are enough stories and that the pace changes regularly.
Grabs (sound clips of people talking) can be used to add variety to a bulletin and break up a long section of reading by one voice. They also help to give credibility to a story by providing first-hand evidence and allowing listeners to hear the actual words of those involved in the event.
The type of voice used for a grab should match the tone of the story. For example, if a story is about an explosion then a dramatic booming voice would be suitable. However, if a story is about a murder then a quieter more serious tone would be appropriate.
It is very important not to rush a news bulletin, as the audience cannot rewind. It is recommended that a news reader practises a script several times to avoid reading too quickly and to check that they can pronounce difficult names. It is also recommended that a pause is marked between each story.